ANGOLA SUPPORT CONFERENCE

NATIONAL INTERIM STEERING COMMITTEE

1514 South AlbanyChicago, Illinois60623

September 30, 1976

Greetings, participants in the Angola Support Conference and otherfriends of Angola:

It has been too long since you ' ve had further follow-up from the May 28-30 meeting . At the July 17th Interim Steering Committee meeting in NYC(see attached minutes) I was appointed temporary coordinator . Hence, Iaccept responsibility and apologize for the delay . To say that we inChicago have been busy with other work around Southern Africa is notsufficient excuse but is the reason.

We must now re-activate ourselves because support for Angola must con-tinue - indeed must intensify.

There are clear indications that South African troops are once again inSouthern Angola carrying out actions both against Angola and againstSWAPO (London Times, July 13, 1976 ; Observer, July 18, 1976) . Additionallyanti-PRA troops are attempting to re-gather on the Angola-Zaire border.

President Samora Machel, at the August 16th Sri Lanka Non-aligned Con-ference, succinctly stated why we must intensify our work in behalf ofAngola :

"In Angola, the MLA's victory over the South Africanforces of aggression and their lackeys supported bypimperialism, deserves s pecial consideration andconstitutes a victory for the cause –Of - independenceand ending exploitation . The People's Republic ofAngola is a sovereign and independent country,a member of the community of Nations with all the rightsand the duties . That is why we strongly condemnthe North American veto against the admission ofthe People's Republic of Angola into the United NationsOrganization . . . "

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Thus, the National Interim Steering Committeeis recommending to Conference participantsand friends that:

One focus for our work now should be to support Angola'srenewed application for UN membership . We can do thisthrough letters, telegrams and calls to the US missionto the UN, State Department and by confronting electoralcandidates at every opportunity.

The Interim Steering Committee will be meeting in NYC at the end of3ctober to create a permanent Angolan Support Structure . New resourcesand information for our support work have been developed over the sum-mer . These resources include:

A filmstrip, slide and tape show by B . Barnes and friends of theMPLA Solidarity Committee.

A Medical Aid to Angola Committee has been formed and is fund-raising in the NYC area . MAAC, % Kimmelman, 10 Downing St .,NewcYork, NY 10014.

New publications include:

Road to Liberation : MPLA Documents on the Struggle of the PRA (BMPress).

Jan . -April 1976 issue of Third World Forum devotes much attentionto Angola including an article by Walter Rodney, "PcAtics of Afro-American Support for African Liberation Struggles " . Third World Forum,Box 685, Station C, Montreal, Canada.

Issue #5 of the Rev iewof African Political Econop, in its 'briefings 'section, has a comprehensive listing of documents and articleswhich give much critical history of the Angolan people's struggle.

Representing the Interim Steering Committee, I can say once again,'apologies' and will be keeping in much better touch in the future.

A 'Rita continua,Pm* rJa.,e4toott

Prexy NenittTemporary National CoordinatorAngola Support Conference

REPORT

MINUTES OF THE INTERIM ANGOLA SUPPORT COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 17, 1976.UN CHURCH CENTER, METHODIST OFFICE, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK.

PARTICIPANTS : Prexy Nesbitt, US Out of Angola ; Patricia Murray, NCBL;James Bristol, AFSC ; George Hauser, ACOA ; Ted Lockwood, WOA ; BarbaraBarnes, MPLA Solidarity Committee ; Carolyn Johnson, Black MilitaryResistance League ; Paul Pumphrey, AAMUSA ; Jerry Silverman for RosaSeawright, Philadelphia Coalition ; Sheila WHeeler for Ole Gherstad, LSM.

CHAIRPERSON : Prexy Nesbitt

NEWS-UPDATE : MERCENARY TRIAL IN ANGOLA

Given that the execution of Gearhart is likely to bring adverse pub-licity to the MPLA in the Unites States, the need to put the mercenarytrial in Angola into the context of the US government's role in notenforcing the laws against the recruitment . of mercenaries was stressed.Important questions are : "How was Gearhart able to get there in thefirst place?"

"Where does the responsibility for that lie?"Continuing fighting in Angola—Larry Henderson, a former UCC missionaryin Angola reports after a recent trip there that UNITA is still activein the Central Plateau area, attacking railroads etc . There is no longterm threat to the PRA by these attacks, but reconstruction efforts arehindered because military personnel and equipment are tied up in thatarea . Chipenda and Roberto are reportedly in Kindhasa.

TWO REPORTS TO BE SENT TO CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS:

-Larry Henderson's report to the WCC on the situation in Angola.-The NCBL report on their participation in an international commissionwhich investigated the role of mercenaries in Angola and observed therecent mercenary trial.-Information also to be sent out on the availability,of these reports inquantity.

CRITICISM OF THE CHICAGO CONFERENCE:

People in Chicago did not have much opportunity to take advantage of theAngolans' presence in their city . THere was too little public exposureof the delegation both for conference participants and Chicagoans.

FINANCIAL REPORT as of (June 22, 1976)

Income : $4,23IExpenses : $4,076 (This does not include debts to ACOA for $173,

Patricia Murray for $200, or Prexy Nexbitt for $315 .)Prexy reported that contributions have been made to erase the conferencedebts and he projected the Committee to now be in solid financial shape.

The Interim Committee decided that all conference costs should be borneby the Havana group and efforts would be made to contact individuals whohad not contributed what they might.

REPORT ON LOCAL ACTIVITIES:

Chicago—A committee has been formed to raise $I,000 in medical aid

before November 11th.New York areas—A medical aid committee has been formed and ONe HundredBlack Men of New Jersey have begun collecting pharmeceuticals.

PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF WORK FROM CONFERENCE WORKSHOPPrexy s suggestion a~ focussing on two goals : -----recognition of the PRA by the United Nations and by the US.raising $11,000 by November 11th culminating in at lease two national

events on that date to celebrate and educate on Angola's first anniversaryas an independent country.

General Discussion—Major PointsTo develop co-ordinating mechanisms for projects which are most effectivelycarried out on a national level, recognizing, however, that in manyareas individual groups will continue to function on their own andshould be encouraged to do so .] A primary goal is to unite and co-ordinate our efforts in order to maximize our efficiency.

Pat's Proposal : Three areas of activity and a national executive com-mittee.I . Dispelling Myths--includes projects such as films, slide tape pre-sentations, a US tour by Angolans, TV and radio appearances by Angolans .and North Americans who have recently been to Angola.2. Assistance--the $11,000 campaign for medical aid, collecting medicalsupplies, raising money for agricultural assistance, and an AngolaBrigade of Volunteer Workers.3. Political Assistance--admission to the UN, recognition by the US,and legislation strengthening US law forbidding the recruitment ofmercenaries in the United States .Pat's Prop

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATING STRUCTURE A National Executive Committee to becomposed of individuals who are in charge of a specific project . THeirtask would be to co-ordinate in their area of responsibility and toparticipate in general policy making with other members of the NationalExecutive Committee.

A National Co-ordinator Would facilitate communication amongst theproject co-ordinators and see that responsibilities were carried out.This job would be an administrative assignment rather than a policymaking one.No decision was made on a national structure for the Angola SupportConference.

DECISIONS OF THE INTERIM COMMITTEE

1. To meet again as the Interim Committee in the early fall . The dateis presently being determined.2. A mailing to go out to all participants of the Chicago conferencewhich would include:-information on each of the projects and a request that the groupsinform the national co-ordinating office of projects they would like toparticipate in.-a report on the Interim Committee meeting.-Bill Minter's memo on the importance of continuing work in support ofMozambique and information on the seed project.-letter from the Angolan Ministry of Agriculture on agricultural im-plements they need.-a request for a contribution to the Angola Support Conference Committeeto finance mailings and any national co-ordinating efforts.3. An inquiry to be made to those who did not attend the Interim

. Committee meeting to find out whether they intend to participate infuture meetings.4. Prexy Nesbitt to continue to serve as temporary national coordinatoruntil the fall meeting.5. The endorsement of two primary goals for special efforts over thenext few months:-411,000 fund raising effort called the " Eleven-Eleven Campaign" to becoordinated by Prexy Nesbitt of US Out of Angola and by Johnetta Coleof the Venceremos Brigade.

SOME NOTES ON THE CONTINUED IMPORTANCE OF SOLIDARITY WORK WITH MOZAM-BIQUE IN THE UNITED STATES - Bill Minter, July 1976

The slogan 'A Luta Continua' is familiar to those who have followedand supported the liberation struggles in southern Africa . For Mozambiquein particular that means several things concretely : 1) the struggle totransform the structure of the economy and society left as a heritage ofcolonialism, to build structures of popular participation and advancestowards a self-reliant economy ;2) the integral connection betweenMozambique and the rest of southern Africa, particularly Zimbabwe andSouth Africa ; the inevitable involvement in the struggles there simplyby geography and example, but also by the commitment of FRELIMO ; and 3)as a consequence of the first two, the hostility towards Mozambique ofthe white-ruled regimes and the western countries that back them andoppose African revolution . Ex-Fide agents and other reactionary ele-ments in Portugal, as well as Smith, Vorster and their western allies,have by ho means reconciled themselves to seeing the Mozambiclan rev-olution succeed, even though their efforts against it may have to below-key at most times (similar comments would apply to Angola, ofcourse) . As well as military threats against Mozambique, and attacks byRhodesia, there is a systematic propaganda and "disinformation" campaignbeing run against Mozambique, heaviest in the South African and Portuguesepress, but reflected in the Western European and North American press aswell . There are attempts at economic sabotage and pressure,

IfMozambique can be "destabilized" or at a minimum lots of people con-vinced that the results of revolution there are "chaotic, extremist,dictatorial, etc .", then support for the liberation struggle in southernAfrica as a whole is undermined.

Therefore, the necessity of continued work in solidarity withMozambique, as one part of the general work in this country of supportfor Southern African liberation . Among the possible kinds of things thatneed to be done are:

1) Continued information work - study of the process now going on inMozambique, attempts to overcome the practical difficulties of languageand communication to continue to get information and to give people herea picture of what is happening, so that they are not dependent on theoccasional rumor or slur appearing in the regular press . Clearly thefilm being prepared "o Povo Organizado"

will be a very important part of this work, and one hopes it will bewidely circulated.

2) Investigation of the possibility of material support . Mozambique'sbank of solidarity, largely money raised within Mozambique, just dispersedalmost $500,000 part for the Zimbabwean struggle, and part for reconstructionof a town 50 miles inside Mozambique destroyed by a Rhodesian attack .

While the details would, of course, have to be explored by with Mozambique,I am sure that money sent to help with such needs would be welcome.

3) Investigation of the possibility of a limited number of North Americansgoing to spend some time (2 or 3 years) working in Mozambique, with theunderstanding thay they were committed in participating in continuingstruggle and solidarity work once they returned to this country.Mozambique clearly will get along with or without such personnel, butthere is a need for trained personnel who are willing to work within thethe context of the Mozambican revolution, and for the long run tiesbetween the struggle here and in southern Africa, and understandingbetween the American people and the ' Mozambi can people, this could be auseful contribution.

These notes are no finished plan, complete and well-worked out, butsimply some reflections intended to bring to people's attention theneeds, after a period in which attention has been understandably focused .primarily on Angola, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

SEED POTATOES FOR ANGOLA

July 1976

Several months ago the Angola Comite in the Netherlands received arequest to help supply seed-potatoes to be used in the next plantingseason in Angola, by cooperatives that were organized in the province ofMalange . The request was for 200 tons of seed potatoes . The AngolaComite began working on the - project in May of this year, calculatingthat the total costs for the project at approximately $300 per ton ofseed potatoes, and including transport, would be somewhat more than$60,000 . While launching a campaign within the Netherlands, particularlythrough people involved in agricultural schools, they realize that theyare unlikely to raise the whole amount there . Hearing of the Chicagomeeting they wondered if groups there would want to collaborate withthis effort.

At the request of the MPLA Solidarity Committee, some informationconcerning this project was sent from the Netherlands, background oncooperatives in Malange and the request having been received for seedpotatoes.Some of that information arrived before the Chicago meeting, but evidently

was not organized enough to be presented systematically to the meeting.Other details, such as that in the first paragraph above, arrived in themail the day after the meeting.

Some of the background material is now with Bill Minter (Africa News,PO Box 3851, Durham, NC 27702) who was in the Netherlands at that time

and made the contact with the Angola Comite on behalf of MPLA SolidarityCOmmittee, after receiving a letter asking for more details on possibleafricultural projects in Angola . Some of the materialis still with MPLA Solidarity COmmittee in New York . If it was usefulto prepare amore extensive background piece and send it out to the

groupswhich had been at Chicago, it would be possible to do so (some of the

material does have to be translated from Portuguese or Dutch, but thatcan be arranged).

Since the Angola Comite, Da Costastract 88, Amsterdam, Netherlands,

isalready working on this project, has experience with material aid, andtelex contact with Luanda, and since shipping from Europe is undoubtedly

more efficient and less expensive than from the US, groupsinterested could undoubtedly send money directly to them, as well as

contacting them if more information were needed about deadlines, thebackground of the project, etc.

LETTER TO MPLA SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE, NEW YORKFROM STATE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, POPULAR REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA

Equipment:

l i9 ht;-Sprayers (knapsack and to be fitted to a tractor)-Rotative weeding machines-Combines for bread cereals and rice (rail motor)-Diggers for draining ditches with shock-absorbing disks-Diggers for draining ditches with three cutting blades-Mechanical grain-cleaners-Fertilizer distributer to be fitted to a tractor- Rotary hoes-Offset grilles of 14/16 disks of 18/20"-Offset grilles of 18/20 disks of 20/22"-Trailer graders-Drills for 6 " , 9", and 18" ditches-Grain and fertilizer drills to be fitted to a tractor-Wheel tractors with hydraulic puller on three points;

from 40 to 45 H .P.from 50 to 55 N .P.

hem: -Ploughs of 4/5 fixed, towed disks-Heavy grilles (Athens D 20/26 type TAW)-Motor graders-Crawler tractors (typesD 6 and D 7)-Wheel tractors (International type 660 D and RichardContinental CRS with platform)

-Rippers for crawler tractors

Revolutionary Greetings,

Office of the State Secretary of Agriculture, in Luanda